Samalie Namukose, the Assistant Commissioner for Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, addressed this issue during a two-day media breastfeeding training in Kampala. She emphasized that promoting exclusive breastfeeding could prevent up to 11.6 percent of infant deaths.
Experts have highlighted a concerning trend in Kampala where many mothers are abandoning exclusive breastfeeding and turning to alternative feeds as their babies grow. This shift poses significant risks to infant health and development.
Samalie Namukose, the Assistant Commissioner for Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, addressed this issue during a two-day media breastfeeding training in Kampala. She emphasized that promoting exclusive breastfeeding could prevent up to 11.6 percent of infant deaths.
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Martin Kasendwa from Family Health International underscored the importance of supporting nutrition interventions for mother and baby during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. He explained that exclusive breastfeeding during this period is crucial for preventing malnutrition, which can lead to irreversible damage to the child's brain development. Kasendwa warned that inadequate nutrition during these early days could result in poor neurological development and subsequently affect academic performance.
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The Ministry of Health is actively promoting antenatal care visits, encouraging mothers to attend at least eight sessions to receive vital information about breastfeeding.
The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey report reveals that while 99.8 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants during the first month, this rate drops to 80.7 percent by four to five months, and further decreases as the baby approaches 23 months, with appropriate breastfeeding rates at 60.3 percent.
Martha Nakyagaba Mutumba, a nutrition focal person from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), attributes this downward trend, particularly in Kampala, to the increasing number of women in the workforce. Women returning to work after only three months of maternity leave struggle to maintain exclusive breastfeeding for the recommended six months.
Nakyagaba also noted the lack of ideal breastfeeding spaces in markets and limited support from husbands as additional challenges faced by working mothers. However, she mentioned that the initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth has improved in Kampala, rising from 53.6 percent in 2006 to 81.7 percent currently.
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This improvement is partly due to the introduction of the baby-friendly facility initiative, which provides immediate breastfeeding information and support to new mothers. Rita Nakiganda, a mother who recently gave birth at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, shared her experience of learning about proper breastfeeding practices from health workers at the hospital.
Sylvia Kalegere, in charge of the labor ward at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, emphasized that breastfeeding immediately after birth not only benefits the baby but also helps the mother by aiding uterine contraction to prevent excessive bleeding. She also reassured mothers that frequent breastfeeding increases milk production.
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As Uganda commemorates the breastfeeding month, health professionals continue to advocate for improved breastfeeding practices to ensure the health and well-being of both mothers and babies.
Fred Kayongo Male
Freelancer